CHICAGO -- OSHA and the Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety Technologists (CCHEST) today signed a voluntary agreement to acknowledge the Safety Trained Supervisor in Construction (STS-Construction) certification issued by CCHEST. OSHA Administrator John L. Henshaw signed the agreement today in Chicago at the 12th Annual Construction Safety and Health Conference -- "Power Through Partnerships."

"This agreement enables OSHA to recognize a certification that verifies the safety and health knowledge of individual supervisors on construction sites," said Henshaw. "We are delighted to encourage the promotion of safety and health at construction worksites through such programs as this certification program of CCHEST."

The Safety Trained Supervisor in Construction certification contributes to OSHA's goal of safety and health training of employees by providing independent assessment of safety and health knowledge covered by the STS-Construction certification process. Intended for first-line supervisors, the program ascertains safety education, training and construction experience, and verifies knowledge through a written examination process to verify that those construction supervisors who meet the stringent criteria for certification also possess knowledge and experience that contributes to achieving safe worksites.

Possession of the STS-Construction certification is not mandatory, and citations will not be issued for failure of construction supervisors to possess the certification. However, a benefit to an employer is that having an STS-Construction certified supervisor on a worksite will be an indicator that the construction site is being operated by individuals with demonstrated knowledge and ability, and an indicator of the contractor's commitment to an effective safety and health program.

The Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety Technologists was established in 1985. Formerly known as the ABIH/BCSP Joint Committee, it is a joint venture of the American Board of Industrial Hygiene and the Board of certified Safety Professionals.

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